HIGHLIGHTS

The firing and shelling took place in Shahpu Kandi area in Poonch district.

Pakistan army used small, and automatics to target Indian positions.

The Indian army jawans retaliated using same caliber weapons.

Ahead of the 70th Independence Day celebrations in the country, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian positions near the Line of Control (LoC) today in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The firing and shelling took place in Shahpu Kandi area in Poonch district of the state.

Army spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistan army used small arms and automatics to target our positions. The Indian army jawans retaliated using same caliber weapons.

WOMAN INJURED

Following heavy shelling and firing on the Line of Control, 50-year-old Qasam Jhan was seriously injured when she was hit by a shell in Kasba village in Poonch today. She was admitted to Poonch hospital for treatment.

Defence sources said that Pakistani troops targeted our six villages and border out posts in Shahpur, Kasba and Gautrian villages in Poonch district.

Sources said mortar shelling and firing is still continuing from Pakistan side and our troops are retaliating with heavy fire to silence enemy guns. Initially, Pakistani soldiers fired medium machine guns(MMG) and now using mortar shells, sources said.

ATTACK ON AMARNATH PILGRIMS

A senior police officer on Saturday said that "11 yatris of Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra were injured near the shrine, when three men hurled a Grenade."

Two suspects were nabbed while they were escaping in a vehicle, but a third suspect was still at the large.

Tensions have mounted near the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir during the Independence Day celebrations of India and Pakistan.

Pakistan army has been resorting to unprovoked firing at Indian positions around August 14 and 15 ever since the armed violence started in the state in early 1990s.